New York is the perfect destination for a Girls Getaway. Whether you are celebrating a bachelorette party, promotion, or simply want to escape your daily routine, a night out in New York City will not disappoint.

This spring I gathered five girlfriends for the ultimate ladies night out in Manhattan: dinner, drinks and a cabaret. We stayed at the Roger Smith Hotel, a boutique property located in midtown just a short cab ride away from the theater district and Hell’s Kitchen.

Our plans happened to coincide with Fleet Week, which added to the sizzle of a weekend getaway for six (mostly married) women from Manhattan and the ‘burbs.

>> Read on for my favorite Girls Getaway activities in the Big Apple. 

The Roger Smith Hotel

Planning a Girls Getaway in the city can be overwhelming; there are simply so many restaurants, bars and hotels to choose from.

It was important for me to pick a special hotel, not just a generic chain, since this was a special occasion– we were celebrating my friend Aly’s last night out as a single woman! Additionally, I wanted to find a property in midtown Manhattan, a short distance from the buzz of Times Square and convenient to Penn Station (since most of my girlfriends were coming from Long Island).

A fellow travel blogger, Charu Suri of Butterfly Diary, suggested the Roger Smith Hotel on Lexington Avenue near 47th Street. It was an excellent choice that met all of my criteria and more: great location, elegant decor and friendly staff.

We stayed in a one-bedroom suite that makes the term “spacious” seem like an understatement. This is the largest hotel room I have seen in Manhattan and, at about 443 square feet, is much larger than my East Village apartment.

>> VIDEO: A walk inside our room at the Roger Smith Hotel

The classic furniture and little touches– a tasteful portrait hanging over the fireplace, an antique mirror– made me feel like I was at home (or at least in the apartment of a wealthy great-aunt).

With a king bed and a pull-out queen bed in the living room, the one-bedroom suite comfortably accommodated three women for an overnight stay.

I couldn’t resist striking a pose on the pull-out sofa in our suite.

Champagne and cupcakes

The hotel suite’s layout was ideal for a Girls Getaway. I prepared hors d’oeuvres and chilled a bottle of champagne in the kitchenette, and we toasted Aly’s nuptials in the living room. Getting ready for our night out was one of the highlights of our evening.

I came prepared with a makeup kit full of Girls Getaway accessories: outrageously long false eyelashes, shimmery lip gloss and dramatic eye shadow. You might as well go all out when you leave your significant other at home!

To balance the champagne, we snacked on vegan cupcakes from Lower East Side bakery Babycakes.

Sushi & sailors in Hell’s Kitchen

When the champagne ran dry, we jumped in a yellow cab and took a 5-minute ride across town to Hell’s Kitchen. This West Midtown neighborhood is a short walk from Times Square and is known for its cozy eateries and bars.

The sushi at Ajisai Japanese restaurant was fresh and inventive. We kicked off dinner with a sake toast, and were able to enjoy our final bottle of champagne at the restaurant (after calling ahead with the request).

Ajisai is known for its lively atmosphere, and several patrons were celebrating birthdays. To our surprise, a long table was filled with sailors in town for Fleet Week.

We didn’t plan our outing around Fleet Week, but it sure made our night more exciting! The sailors were friendly and eager to meet New Yorkers (especially women dressed to the nines).

A group of young sailors invited us to sit with them at a local bar. They were surprisingly sweet and we spent an hour talking about their lives, their tours of duty and what life is like in New York City. Best of all, they gamely posed for photos to commemorate our evening out!

Le Scandal Cabaret

What better way to cap off an evening of revelry than with a burlesque show? We walked a few blocks to 42nd Street to catch a performance of Le Scandal Cabaret. This long-running variety show featured a jazz singer, a musician, burlesque dancers and even a sword-swallower.

The rowdy crowd was comprised mainly of bachelorette parties, and hostess Bonnie Dunn called Aly onto the stage (along with other brides) to accept an R-rated goody bag. If you’ve ever wanted a set of pasties, this might be your chance!

After the show, we chatted with the star performer– a sword-swallowing belly dancer named Natasha. Her skill with two-foot long sabres was unmatched.

After a full night of drinks, dinner and dancing, we retreated to the comfort of the Roger Smith Hotel. This was an evening to remember and I can’t wait for the next Girl’s Getaway.

Writer’s Note: My hotel stay was sponsored by the Roger Smith Hotel; full price was paid for all other attractions and services. As always, all opinions are my own.